The Fantasy Authority

On Saturday, June 11th, Adam Schefter reported that Breshad Perriman had suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee. This, of course, comes with the understanding that Perriman missed all of 2015 with a partially torn PCL in his right knee. After last year’s missed season, the dynasty community was high on his value heading into the 2016 season, especially with elite Joe Flacco slinging the ball downfield. Perriman’s ADP reflected the hope the dynasty community held for him coming off the PCL injury. Perriman was being drafted 54th overall, 5.06 in a 12 team league, right behind Julian Edelman and Tyler Lockett and just before Golden Tate and Allen Hurns. Alas, it appears 2016 is not the year where Perriman will return value and he will likely take a tumble down a couple of rounds in dynasty startup drafts.

In Perriman’s absence and Steve Smith’s, Achilles Injury, Kamar Aiken emerged as the primary target in the Baltimore offense. In his 4th season, the undrafted free agent broke out catching 75 passes for 944 yards and 5 touchdowns, good for being the 27th ranked WR in PPR scoring. So all Aiken needed was the opportunity and he got last year and should get it in 2016 as well if Breshad Perriman misses his second straight season. Aiken was being massively undervalued before the Perriman injury as the 133rd player off the board, the 12.01 in a twelve team league. His ADP should rise rapidly and he needs to be drafted in about the 75th overall position as a player who has done it and is slotted to be another top option for the Ravens.

Mike Wallace signed a 2 year – $11.5 million dollar deal with the Ravens in April. He stands to take over the role Perriman was expected to fulfill as one of the few Ravens players with some measure of speed. Wallace is going to have another one of his maddening seasons where he has 4 or 5 great 3 catch, 120 yard, 2 TD games and the rest of his games looking like 1 catch for 5 yards. Wallace receives a little bump in value with this news but does not warrant him moving up more than one round at most in ADP.

Steve Smith announced his retirement last year, but then after his Achilles injury, he decided to return for another season. The problem with an Achilles tear is that it saps a player of their explosiveness and speed especially with an older player, which Smith most definitely is at 37 years old. Triple S is one of my favorite players, but I fear that in 2016 he could be a shell of his former self and he could have a bad season by his standards. His ADP at 15.02 is in the right place, low enough that if he busts it doesn’t really hurt you and if he does have one season left he can possibly be a league winner for you.

Perriman had an amazing chance to step into an offense lacking other great weapons and take it over with a QB suited towards his strengths. Breshad Perriman’s injury gives you a little bit of a buy low window, whether it’s in late 17 round picks or a roster clogger if you are willing to embrace the variance Perriman is going to bring. Perriman seems to be following a path to where you always have to check the injury reports to see if he will play and I’m not one who enjoys those types of players. However, if Perriman can return to form after this most recent injury and return to form, he will have been a great buy low and one of the best decisions you ever made.